Discussion Posting: Ethics - Essay Example

“It is curious – curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare.” (Mark Twain)

            It seems immediately that the duty of a caregiver should be to do anything that would make the quality of life of a client better.  If a client expresses a dying wish to a psychologist, and the psychologist is able to fulfill that wish, materially, surely there would be no hesitation on the part of the psychologist.

            The goals of psychology, after all, include the welfare and protection of individuals with whom psychologists work. Principle A of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct is titled Beneficence and Malfeasance, implying that psychologists act to the benefit of people, and set out to do no harm. (APA website, 2010) Principle B of the same code encourages the building of relationships of trust. Further, it is stressed as important that a portion of the psychologist’s “professional time” should be contributed for “little or no compensation or personal advantage.” (ibid. Principle B)

            It is true that the psychologist clarifies professional roles and obligations, though. (ibid. Principle B) This may be interpreted as suggesting that the driving of someone 100 miles to a canyon is not part of the professional obligations of the psychologist. While this may be true, a caring psychologist may argue that in considering the best interests and preferences of a client (see: ibid. Standard 3.10), this trip to the Grand Canyon would be completely justified. In addition, if the professional opinion of the psychologist is that the trip is of benefit to the wellbeing of the client, he/she is entitled to make that call. (see ibid. Introduction and Applicability)

            From a personal perspective, the need to arrange and make the trip is evident – the lines between client and psychologist would not significantly be overstepped; only a superficial dependency would result; and the compassionate, caring psychologist would help the dying client to complete this one achievable wish.

Discussion Posting: Ethics

Scenario Two

            “Unfortunately, zero plus zero still equals zero.” (Noam Chomsky, 1981)

            Sometimes it is possible to “just know” (writer’s quotation marks) something – your every instinct tells you that what you perceive is true and you want, more than anything, to act on your feelings.

            The question of honesty and integrity in the professional lives of psychologists is referred to no fewer than 17 times in the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct and its general principles and standards. (APA website, 2010) Of particular note in a reaction to the scenario here – where one would be tempted to “adjust results” (writer’s quotation marks) a little to ensure continued funding of intervention – are a number of specified guidelines governing the actions of psychologists. 

            Principle C of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct governs this specifically: Accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness are essential in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology. Further, psychologists will not steal, cheat, engage in fraud, subterfuge, or in intentional misrepresentation of facts. (APA website, 2010)  You may believe in the integrity of your testing, or not; you may re-test; you may share all your data for others to verify it; you may take any reasonable steps to discover and correct errors in data – but you may not fabricate data. (See: Standard 8.10, 8.11, 8.14, and 8.15 in the APA Code of Conduct)

            Additionally, Standard 6.6 of the Code of Conduct stresses that the accuracy of reports to Payers or Funding sources is essential. (APA website, 2010) Standard 5.1 regulates public statements made by psychologists, specifically, and were you to misrepresent the data in your study, and knowingly report those false findings to the funders of the projects, you would be acting fraudulently, subject to the rules of the APA but also to the legal statutes of your state. Explicit mention is made in Standard 5.1 of “research, practice, or other work activities.” (ibid.) The duty the psychologist has to promote the well-being of people will have to be served, in this instance, by a different approach.

            After checking results, and having them independently reviewed by colleagues, and taking every possible route to ensure that your data is accurate, you should publish the accurate report, with its statistical shortcomings.